IN YOUR CLOSET?Local brand Cityzen by Azin has used satellite maps of cities to create topographically interesting dresses, scarves, and bags. Cool enough to wear your New York pride on your sleeve all over your body? Prove it. [CurbedWire Inbox; official]
PARK SLOPE, HELL'S KITCHEN/CLINTON & LONG ISLAND CITY?Workers at luxury apartment buildings across the city protested yesterday that, even though their employers receive tax exemptions under the 421a program for providing affordable housing and paying prevailing wages and benefits, not all of them are making good on that promise. A survey conducted by union 32BJ SEIU found that out of about 90 buildings in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan that currently participate in the program, there are at least 25 who don't follow proper protocol. Named violators include Arias Park Slope, Griffin Court Condominium, and L Haus. According to a release, "some building workers in these multi-million dollar complexes are being paid less than $10 an hour while others go without any health care coverage." [CurbedWire Inbox]
EAST VILLAGE?When we wrote about the $6.5 million "industrial chic" townhouse at 56 East 1st Street pictured above, we noted the concrete floors and the multiple terraces, but we did not take note of the ceiling height. Which would be important, because apparently, it was built by a 6'9" transplant from California specifically because he hated stuffing himself into cramped apartments. Potential buyers? One of the New York Knicks, or perhaps three kids sitting on top of each others' shoulders wearing a trenchcoat? Now, let's not let some shorties go into contract and let all that coveted airspace go to waste. [DNAinfo; previously]
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS?Yet another New York City library is getting a makeover. The Brooklyn Public Library has issued an RFP to redevelop its Brooklyn Heights branch, which currently requires more than $9 million in repairs. Submissions are due in September, with the goal to pick a partner by the end of the year. Let's hope it turns out as well as the revamps of the 100-year-old Stapleton Library in Staten Island and the ridiculously fun, made-for-teenagers Hamilton Grange branch. [CurbedWire Inbox; official]
WEST VILLAGE?On Sunday at 11:45 a.m., the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation will unveil a permanent bronze plaque at the Church of the Village to commemorate the founding of LGBT advocacy organization PFLAG there 40 years ago. The official backstory: "A mother and school teacher from Queens, Jeanne Manford held the first meeting of what came to be PFLAG at the church after marching in the Christopher Street Liberation Day March (now the LGBT Pride March) with her son and Dr. Benjamin Spock, carrying a sign that read 'Parents of Gays Unite in Support for Our Children.' Forty years later, PFLAG has 350 chapters and more than 200,000 members, and has affected countless lives." [CurbedWire Inbox; official]